December, we can all agree, is a busy time of the year. With my shop being in full Christmas mode, my day-job working on year-end inventories and reports, several articles due for the paper, and not to mention trying to decorate at home.....yes it has been a little hectic.
This is when I take a deep breath, and take time to stop and smell the holly.
There is something pleasing about green holly themed candy dishes and platters. This little red knee-hugger elf looks quite comfortable. I think he is waiting for the dishes to be filled with candy.......ah yes, some ribbon candy.
Then there is a bit of fun. Remember this cute little red flocked reindeer that I earlier shared? Well I just found a set of red coasters (Goodwill) that show the exact same reindeer. Really, how fun is that!!! It was a giddy moment. I amuse myself so easily.
Then there are these shiny brite boxes. I use them as decorations. Although they are empty, I just love the green color. It is my favorite shade of green. Plus the graphics are amazing.
Here is Uncle Sam shaking hands with Santa Claus. The box boasts American Made.
I also get excited about Christmas lights like these Noma light bulbs still in their pristine shape and original box. These were rescued from the trash as being old and useless! I just can't imagine that someone could do that. My favorite ones are the green, again my favorite shade of jadeite green. Did you notice the swirls on the bulbs?
So what does one do, when all stressed out with work, home and family....... you stop everything you are doing and get out the glue gun and create. Here is a little wreath I made that I think is pretty darn cute. The wreath form was wrapped in vintage garland and then decorated with vintage Christmas picks and Santa.
On the back of the wreath, I glued on vintage white light bulbs. I took my inspiration from Suzy at The Wreath Blog by GeorgiaPeachez . Her wreaths are simply gorgeous. I was suppose to be cleaning my house not making a bigger mess. My dining room table is now under a pile of supplies, glue gun and scissors. But I did have fun creating and while mine is not in the same league as the wreathes Suzy creates, it was, as it should always be, about having fun.
I am joining a new party at Today's Creative Blog for the Get your Craft on Party. There are already over 200 ideas showing at this party. If you are looking for a craft idea, please be sure to check it out. Looks fun.
Have you stopped today to smell the holly?
Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
Okay, don't laugh..... this is an addendum to my post, that I already posted today. I didn't like my photos so I quickly added these, this time without the flash. Of course when you add photos, they go to the top of the post and I really couldn't figure out how to quickly rearrange them. So here are all the photos of my Peacock Tree.
This is the original post.
Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men. It is just a few days before Christmas and the house is surprisingly peaceful. The trees are up and the house is decorated, although I still find myself tweaking things here and there, and remembering to take a picture so I can be reminded next year of what I did. The packages are wrapped. I only have a few more little things to do like making the gift tags. I found some terrific images at the Graphics Fairy that I will be using for customized tags (Which are turning out so nice, they could be used as ornaments. I will show you when I finish them.) As promised for today, I want to show you another one of my trees. It is the Peacock Tree and it is in the Front Parlor. The mantle decoration above sets the tone for the room with its chartreuse green flowers and copper accents. Those colors are carried over to this tree.
This is the tree topper, a green bow and gold peacock (you gotta love spray paint!)
I wanted to showcase the colors of the feathers. So you will see different shades of blue, green, copper and gold.
I have gold peacocks and these little copper birds with their tuft of feathers.
I have actual natural elements including twigs and pine cones along with natural looking elements of artichokes and grapes. I found this green and gold ribbon with a rustic feel at Goodwill for $.99 cents and I cut it lengthwise to have enough to go around the tree.
This next photo is off the tree, it does not do it justice. Partly because of my camera, partly because of the lighting, and partly because of me as the photographer. During the daytime, the tree has an iridescent glow. It is perhaps more of a floral arrangement than a tree. I do like how it came out, but it is a tree that is best seen in person to see all the detail that I couldn't get on film.
If by chance you are visiting my post today for wrapping up Vintage Christmas Monday, that post is dated the 20th. Please enjoy that one as well as the one in between of my Hallway Tree. Merry Christmas to all who visit and please let me know, should I keep this tree or is it a one season showing? Thanks.
Okay since I posted a serious Vintage Christmas Post, I thought I would do a second post today of another tree. Here is my Hallway Tree. I love to decorate, especially for the holidays. Every year I always think that I will try something new but I love how the old way already looks. So I tweak things, adding maybe just a new piece here or there .... I ask myself, why tamper with perfection. BUT THIS IS THE YEAR OF CHANGE! With the family room having had a complete makeover (see earlier post) and the addition of new furniture in the front hallway has given me the inspiration and courage to try something new. I thought I would post last year's photos( They are posted at the end because I forgot to bring over the photos in reverse order.) along with the new photos, and you can be the judge.
Today I'm showing my front hallway. My Eastlake hutch got moved from hallway to family room and replaced with a large 9 drawer pine dresser. This piece was hand built by my Dad's cousin and when he moved this summer to a smaller home, the dresser became mine. I immediately painted it black and switched out the wooden knobs for metal. It is a low piece that for as long as it is, fits perfectly under my hallway stairs and makes a great place for my collection of linens, salt and pepper shakers and silverware collections. A hall table was replaced with a small deacon's bench, also painted black. (My parents got this bench in the 60's using S & H Green Stamps.) With the introduction of all this black, my Christmas White theme needed to change. You guessed it .... all to Black. So first this year's photos followed by last year's. Please let me know what you think
My dad's silver reindeer adorn the candlesticks and floral arrangement and are flanked by the mercury glass pieces. I have used red as my pop of color.
This pine dresser is perfect for holding my collection of linens and silverware.
This is a metal basket, black of course, given to me by a friend. I have it filled with fresh greens and red flowers.
This is the deacon's bench that my parents got through S&H green stamps. Remember those? Of course I have presents wrapped in coordinating black, silver and red. The boxes are actually empty.
The pine cone wreath on the mirror has been every color. It is now Black. My family just humors me when they see me go out into the garage with object in one hand, and a can of spray paint in the other.
Not the best shot of the tree. It is black with red and silver ornaments.
Now the next pictures are of last year's Christmas with an all-white theme. I used white tulle with lights along the stairway railing.
This is my Wedding Tree. Everything is white. I have had this tree for years, long before White Wednesday.
I love these two gigantic ornaments hanging on either side of the door. My friend found them. Because of their large scale, perhaps they had once been used as a store display.
As always thanks for letting me share and thank you for all your kind comments. We still have a few more trees to go. Maybe I can finally get the photos done in day light and turn off the flash. Hey, I'm still new at this. Be sure to visit my earlier VCM post for today and all the other VCM participants. Thanks Joan at anythinggoeshere for a wonderful time in blog land.
There is something pleasing about green holly themed candy dishes and platters. This little red knee-hugger elf looks quite comfortable. I think he is waiting for the dishes to be filled with candy.......ah yes, some ribbon candy.
Then there is a bit of fun. Remember this cute little red flocked reindeer that I earlier shared? Well I just found a set of red coasters (Goodwill) that show the exact same reindeer. Really, how fun is that!!! It was a giddy moment. I amuse myself so easily.
Then there are these shiny brite boxes. I use them as decorations. Although they are empty, I just love the green color. It is my favorite shade of green. Plus the graphics are amazing.
Here is Uncle Sam shaking hands with Santa Claus. The box boasts American Made.
I also get excited about Christmas lights like these Noma light bulbs still in their pristine shape and original box. These were rescued from the trash as being old and useless! I just can't imagine that someone could do that. My favorite ones are the green, again my favorite shade of jadeite green. Did you notice the swirls on the bulbs?
So what does one do, when all stressed out with work, home and family....... you stop everything you are doing and get out the glue gun and create. Here is a little wreath I made that I think is pretty darn cute. The wreath form was wrapped in vintage garland and then decorated with vintage Christmas picks and Santa.
On the back of the wreath, I glued on vintage white light bulbs. I took my inspiration from Suzy at The Wreath Blog by GeorgiaPeachez . Her wreaths are simply gorgeous. I was suppose to be cleaning my house not making a bigger mess. My dining room table is now under a pile of supplies, glue gun and scissors. But I did have fun creating and while mine is not in the same league as the wreathes Suzy creates, it was, as it should always be, about having fun.
